Whale-watching worth billions

My summary
According to a report released at the IWC international whaling commission whale watching generates far more money than whale hunting. It is said that whale hunting countries would gain money by switching to whale watching. Whales are worth more alive than death and it is more environmentally sustainable. Anti-whaling organisation ifaw has been battling against whale hunting for many years and also says that whale hunting is hurting the whale watching industry. However in Iceland they say that whale watching and whale hunting can co-exist. In Norway a group of tourists saw a minke-whale get harpooned by whale hunters this may be a cause of the debate whether whale watching and whale hunting can co-exist.

My opinion
If whale watching is generating more money than whale hunting why should we continue hunting them? I do not think whale hunting is necessary especially not in the quantity they are doing it now. Tourists are more interested in seeing the whales swimming in the sea happily than seeing them in pieces at markets. I think we should do what we can to decrease whale hunting as it is better for the environment, the animals and the incomes of the governments. After all a dead whale only delivers money once a living whale delivers again and again.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8114353.stm